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NEWS RELEASE

05-30-02

Contacts:
Donald Draper, Biomedical Sciences, (515) 294-4415
Bridget Bailey, News Service, (515) 294-6881
Paul D. Pion, Veterinary Information Network, (530) 757-6881

ONLINE COURSE OFFERS BUSINESS MANAGEMENT SKILLS TO PRACTICING VETERINARIANS

AMES, Iowa -- Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is offering an innovative online course on entrepreneurship.

"Strategies for Success: Lead Your Practice to a New Level," is designed to give practicing veterinarians and veterinary students business management skills to create prosperous practices.

The interactive Web course explores the importance of leadership in establishing a smoothly run veterinary practice. The program's five modules run from March to December.

"The Strategies for Success course is a unique opportunity for veterinarians and veterinary students to learn and apply the same business concepts that are offered in MBA curricula," said Donald Draper, Iowa State University professor of biomedical sciences and an instructor for the class.

The modules cover a variety of business-oriented strategies.

Module I, completed in April, discussed how to bring about constructive change within a practice.

Module II, June 4-July 9, will explore the importance of leadership in creating a successful, thriving practice.

Module III, July 23-Aug. 27, will look at financial management.

Module IV, Sept. 10-Oct. 15, will explore the basics of modern-day marketing and service systems.

Module V, Oct. 29-Dec. 3, will cover the keys of employee management.

Live interactive sessions are available for two hours, one evening per week during each of the five-week long modules. Easy-to-use online learning tools allow participants to access resource materials and interact with and learn from instructors and other participants. Veterinarians and veterinary students enrolled in the class participate at their own convenience.

Each module is worth 10 continuing education credits.

The course was developed by Draper and Nolan Hartwig, chair, Iowa State veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine, and Catherine Hunt, program coordinator, Iowa State continuing education and communication services.

The Veterinary Information Network (VIN) supplies the distance education program. Since 1991, VIN has offered thousands of hours of online courses.

Strategies for Success is funded by a grant from the Coleman Foundation. For more information about each module, times and registration fees, visit http://www.vin.com/CE/PRAC102-0602.htm

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